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A new museum, the Humboldt Forum, opens Wednesday in a reconstructed royal palace in central Berlin – although the official opening is currently online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But it is controversial.
The museum will house works of art from all over the world – including some of Benin’s bronzes, sculptures stolen from Nigeria in the late 19th century.
The Humboldt Forum, which dominates central Berlin, is meant to showcase global culture and become a symbol of tolerance and diversity.
But the museum found itself in the midst of an argument over looted art and colonialism.
Some of the key exhibits are the bronzes from Benin, Nigeria, precious sculptures looted by British soldiers in 1897.
The Nigerian government has called for their return to Nigeria.
The pressure is also increasing in Germany.
Historians and anti-racist activists in Germany say the museum needs to do more to explain where these treasures come from and how they got to Europe.
Berlin museum officials say they are investigating the matter.
But so far, the German government has failed to respond to Nigeria’s request.
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